Books that tell the tragedy of Polygamy

Indonesian women lobby for polygamy ban. Taken from Radio Australia article by Christine Webster

Will we enforce the law, or will we stand by and debate while little children are being forced to have sex against their will?

What choice do these girls have for their life? They have no chance to further their education. They have no money. Most have no one, outside of their group, to reach out to. If they try to resist they are told their families will be put out on the street.

Women and in particular young women become a commodity. Like a sheep, or a goat, or a head of cattle they become status symbols to brag about, like a new car or piece of jewelry.

If these were all adults making decisions for themselves it would be one thing, but eventually even the adults who went in of their own free will have children. It is their children who soon become victims. Think for a minute, a second wife has a young daughter. The leader wants to give her to an older man that maybe is a big money maker. If she doesn't turn over her daughter her husband gets in trouble. She is already second fiddle. What will happen to her? She also has no means of support for herself. She can't get alimony. Her marriage is not even legal.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully you get the picture.

Here is the bottom line. We do not and I emphasize do NOT need new laws. We just need to enforce the laws that are already in place.

There are laws in every state to protect the young from sexual predators. These laws need to be enforced.

There are laws regarding the legal age of consent. Polygamy is against the law for a very good reason. The law protects little girls in closed societies from becoming property. Children are not meant to be sex slaves.

Slavery was abolished in this country by the thirteenth amendment.

Article 4 of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights (passed in 1948) declares such servitude as illegal.

In America, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 extended servitude to cover Peonage as well as Involuntary Servitude.

At every level of law these children are under protection. It is just up to us as citizens to understand these children's plight and speak out and to act upon it, as we are able.

Because one husband cannot possibly support all of these children, the women are sent to the welfare office where they are to obtain welfare dollars, food stamp

Polygamy's Dirty Little Secret

At first glance you may be inclined to say. So what? As long as they're adults and consenting, than it is their business. What is not seen at first glance is the dirty little secret of polygamy.

Polygamy historically leads to rape, and child abuse. Even in the U.S.A. when religious groups adopt a doctrine of polygamy it eventually leads to slavery, or its close cousin, indentured servitude.

The dirtiest, of all the dirty little secrets is; It is the children who become pawns in the game.

It is these children who are the true victims. Never allowed to even reach an age close to adulthood, they are coerced by social pressure, threats of abandonment, and sometimes brute force. More often than not, it is a man much older than they are that they are made to marry. Laws about statutory rape, or the legal age for marriage are thrown out the window. These groups consider themselves above the law. People inside the group are afraid to speak out

Polygamy is against the law in the United States.

Please understand, this is not a freedom of religion issue. It is a child abuse issue.

When all law is disregarded what is left is anarchy. Sometimes there are laws that need to changed, and there are mechanisms in place to do so. The laws of our land that protect women and children from exploitation are very good laws and they need to be enforced.

The reason I feel so passionately about this is because I have witnessed the destruction that can come from these laws being usurped by a self proclaimed religious leader.

It is particularity destructive when it is against the law, and a religious leader deems it not only acceptable but his duty to break the law and have multiple wives. Immediately there is an "Us against Them" mind set that is strengthened. The leader takes on an aura of power.

In the group I am familiar with, and from what I've read, these other polygamous groups recently in the news, the leader takes on more and more power. They will even take the role of assigning who should marry whom.

Think now of the position a young girl is put in. (We are talking 11, 12, and 13 years old). She is told to marry a man she probably barely knows, or doesn't know at all. Remember, she is told this by the one person, that from her birth, she has been told is God's Prophet, or Wolrd Pastor, or such like. At this age she probably does not dissern these things for herself. If she's lucky the man she will marry is in his twenties. More often, he will be in his thirties, forties, or fifties. I know of one poor girl right here in the United States that was forced to marry a supposed man of God in his late sixties or early seventies! (Afterwards the monster bragged about how tight she was).

Tony Alamo child predator

The FBI arrested Tony Alamo in a motel in Flagstaff, AZ. Authorities said he was taken into custody on charges of violating the Mann Act. The Mann Act makes it a crime to knowingly take a minor (under 18) across state lines with the intent of conducting sexual activity.

Alamo's compound had been raided after receiving information of child abuse and possession of child pornography.

god's brothel

Here is a real life testimony of a girl who was forced by the supposed "pastor", of this organization:

"To Whom It May Concern;

I, Cindi Jo Angulo, (aka Cindi Jo Franckiewicz) was born and raised in the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation. I am the oldest of four siblings. Knowing no other life, I thought my life was good. We had our own school, cafeteria, recreational center and, of course ,church. As I got older things started to change. Tony's wife, Susan had passed away and Tony remarried. I remember vividly playing on the playground and seeing Tony's limo pull up. He got out with his expensive furs and diamonds. His wife decked out as well. Everybody stood around him as if he were God. That's when things really started to change. Tony, shortly afterwards, remarried and then remarried again. He was going through one wife after another.

Things started to change for the worse. I lived in fear that if anything I did could possibly be misconstrued or twisted, there was the fear of being beaten. It was a fear that became a reality so many times. When I look back now, I, as well as the other children, never deserved those beatings.

The girls my age were all being married off to older men in the church. I knew my time was near. Sure enough, I was married too. I never knew this man I married or anything about him except that it was supposedly of the Lord for me to marry him, and how dare I question that? I was fifteen years old. At eighteen I had two children and two miscarriages. Birth control wasn't an option.

Meanwhile the church and Tony was just becoming more and more corrupt. Tony had become a polygamist and was marrying girls my age. During this time he was finally caught and sent to prison for tax fraud and other things. Once again, he still ran and operated the church through phone and message tapes. His 9 wives, at the time, moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to be close to the prison and would visit him almost daily.

The church property in which we stayed was hardly livable. There was no electricity, running water and the duplexes were infested with roaches, mice and rats. We had blow- up mattresses and blankets and cooked with propane stoves and brought water to wash dishes and bathe.

I was told I could stay. A couple days later, I got a message from Tony that I could chose either to go back to Arkansas and live in Moffet or go to Colorado Springs with Tony's wives. I chose to go back and live in Moffet. My message back was that God wanted me to go to Colorado. Having no chose I was flown along with my two children from LAX to Colorado Springs, Colorado where I was escorted to Tony's house where all his wives lived. To my surprise, one of my sisters, Katrinna, (only 11 years old ), was living there along with the other €˜wives Katrinna told me she was married to Tony.

That was the beginning to the end. After I got there Tony requested pictures of me. I thought that was really strange but I did as instructed and allowed pictures to be taken. Shortly after my arrival my daughter, Varina, only 9 months, old became very sick with pneumonia. She could barely breathe one night. I thought she was going to die. I rushed her to the hospital were she was hospitalized for several days. During my stay at the hospital I got a phone call from one of the wives. She told me that Tony had called and that the Lord told him that I was to be one of the wives. She said one of us as she was being discreet over the phone. The news was overwhelming. I told her that I would like to pray about this. I didn't understand. I thought it was against Gods Word to marry sisters as it causes confusion. When Tony heard my response he was furious. His message back to me was if I didn't become one of the wives my daughter, Varina, would die. In my state of mind, (brainwashed) I believed him. I agreed to become one of the wives. Shortly after, I was sent a pass to the prison.

Ill never forget how confused I was. In a blink I was one of the wives and now on my way to visit Tony in prison. On my first visit I sat next to him. The whole time he was getting an erection as he was being turned on by telling me all the things he was going to do to me when he got out. He said he would spend four straight nights with me. He also shared in graphic detail how it was with each wife on the first night. While at the prison, the wives would take turns sitting on the each side of him throughout the visit. I sat next to him the whole time on the first visit since I was the new wife. The other wives would watch the security cameras and when they would turn Tony would fondle the wife on the other side of him. He only rubbed my leg on the first visit but the other wives he fondled.

I came to the conclusion that there was only one way out. One day I decided after arriving at the prison that I wasn't going to go in. I told Sharon (one of the wives) that I refused to go in and to please give a note that I had written to Tony. In the note I explained that it wasn't in my heart to be one of the wives and begged for Tony to let me go.

I thank God to this day that he answered my prayers. Tony let me go. I was flown back to Saugus, California with my two children. I asked Tony for money, as I had nowhere to go and had two babies and was pregnant. He gave me $ 500 and told me to keep my mouth shut about everything."

This testimony was shortened for brevity. The whole thing can be read at. (the links to the "factnet dot org" board regarding Alamo, are no longer available. You may still be able to find it with an advanced search.)

Alamo in the news

Tony Alamo NewsThe "Alamo Christian Church" started out as a Christian mission in the late 60's.
It has since become a polygamous cult that preaches that polygamy is acceptable if you become as holy as Tony Alamo. (Sick but true)

Comments

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sending

AUTHOR

talford

3 years agofrom U.S.A.

Will do.

This was written many years ago and was written to try and help not to hurt.

I am sorry for any pain it caused.

PISSED!

3 years ago

take the wedding picture at the top of your article down. I don't appreciate you exploiting my situation for your little blog. you have no permission to use this photo of me or give out your little details of what happened to me. I don't appreciate being used as a pariah. If I want to tell my story I will to whom I want to tell it and I deserve my privacy. Take it down! - The then minor in this photo whose horrors you are exploiting WITHOUT PERMISSION!

AUTHOR

talford

3 years agofrom U.S.A.

I am not sure I understand your question, Mophorspeella?

Mophorspeella

3 years ago

Wonderful issues altogether, you simply received a emblem new reader. What would you recommend in regards to your put up that you simply made some days ago? Any positive?

AUTHOR

talford

5 years agofrom U.S.A.

Thank you bb. It is true. Not only are they brought up to believe this. They are forced into marriage before they are even at a mature age. These children are victims. It does not reflect at all on their choices; they had no choices.

Tom

bb

5 years ago

I grew up in a polygamist group. And levertis you say dumb women?

They are told there whole life that the leader is pretty much God and that if they question anything he does they will go to hell.

they are brain washed and so abused they feel like there is no other option.

AUTHOR

talford

6 years agofrom U.S.A.

Abuse, abuse, abuse.

timidlady

6 years ago

A woman needs to be held, loved, listened to and have a healthy sexual relationship. That takes a lot of time, energy, stamina on the man's part. Maybe it isn't common knowledge but women are sexual also. How many of these beautiful Christian women are being left to celibacy because he loses interest or moves on because of someone younger, untouched, newer? In fact, these spiritual practices don't even allow a woman any ability to be sexually competitive the way society as a whole does. As I get older I can put on make up, sexy dresses, flaunt my whole sexual being to attract a partner if I desire. These women end up holding a pillow into the late hours of the night. If you can't bring yourself to say "abuse", at least find the strength to say, "what a waste".

friend

6 years ago

stop polygamy

AUTHOR

talford

6 years agofrom U.S.A.

I could not agree with you more, Levertis.

Levertis Steele

6 years agofrom Southern Clime

A big problem seems to be dumb women who allow perverts to abuse them under the guise of serving the Lord and doing his will. Unless they are locked behing bars, how can they stand by and allow nasty, grown dogs to abuse their little girls as if they are mature enough to be wives and have sex with them? Men who do this need to be castrated.

There are so many forms of slavery in the world, and children seem to suffer more than anyone. Let's forget ourselves and protect these childre! Forget fear and report these crimes.

AUTHOR

talford

7 years agofrom U.S.A.

opulasereth,

Thank you. I agree, these sick manipulators need to be exposed and chased back under the rocks they came from.

Tom

opulasereth

7 years ago

You have come up on my google search on the subject of polygamy & i must say this is one of the best i have ever read to educate people about the evils of polygamy.Brainwashing & control using God & the patriarchs of the old testament & the fear of damnation if they do not submit to forced marriage (which is slavery)is something that every fiber in my being is against.Thank you for exsposing these perverted self righteous, sick & evil men.They twist the word of God to their own damnation.i have a lot more to say but i guess i will have to start my own hub to do that.God Bless you bro

AUTHOR

talford

8 years agofrom U.S.A.

Thank you. It is an under-reported travesty. These children need to be protected. I do not support new laws. What needs to happen, is the enforcement of existing laws.

Tom

Sunnyglitter

8 years agofrom Cyberspace

This stuff breaks my heart. Nice hub.

schoolgirlforreal

8 years ago

Wow, I didn't really know a lot about this, what an eye opener.

n. a.

9 years ago

Latest news is that Tony Alamo got 175 years for his crimes. Good article.

Sammy

9 years ago

Good article. Worth sharing.

john

9 years ago

two thumbs up.

AUTHOR

talford

10 years agofrom U.S.A.

The longer it continues the more it becomes a cess pool.

LondonGirl

10 years agofrom London

&quot;She is told to marry a man she probably barely knows, or doesn't know at all.&quot;

From what I hear, on some occasions it's actually worse than this. It's a man she knows only too well, her uncle, for example.

noel

10 years ago

These crimes against children need to be punished!

donnaleemason

10 years agofrom North Dakota, USA

Excellent viewpoint Talford and I think for the most part you are definitely right. Check the forum for how toput up your Amazon and Ebay capsules.

SweetiePie

10 years agofrom Southern California, USA

This hub is very well written and thought out, so I say this is a good start! Ebay and amazon capsules are fun things to add to pages, so whenever you have time check these out. It often takes a day or two for the ads to starting showing up, but when they do the ads will make more sense. Did you already get approved for a google ad sense account because if you did you should post that number into you google affliate tab. I am glad you are new to hubpages and continue writing about your passions!

AUTHOR

talford

10 years agofrom U.S.A.

I meant as an E-bay capsule for now, simply because I have not read the book yet. I want to do whatever I can to bring these abuses to light.

Thank You for your gracious coments.

As you can see I have just started with Hub pages and I am having a little trouble getting everthing moving (in particular with affiliate ads). I am sure it will come with time and practice.

SweetiePie

10 years agofrom Southern California, USA

I think your suggestion of talking about Shattered Dreams would make sense on your hub. Or did you mean just as an ebay capsule. This is a good hub! Some argue that polygamy is about freedom of religion, but those who have studied the history see how this leads to child abuse. Polygamist men are business men with high powered lawyers and it would be in their vested interest to legalize polygamy. This would allow them to use the law to continue to exploit young women, whereas now there is some accountability. The majority of people practicing polygamy in the US are involved with cults such as the FLDS, which knowingly exploits minor girls. Thank you for sharing your insights.

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